Wyoming wolf quota increase fires up debate

Wolf watcher Linda Hamilton, of Green River, Wyo., uses a spotting scope to scan the plains near the Lamar Valley on May 11. Hamilton and her husband, Larry, said they have come to Yellowstone several times since wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995. More than 300,000 people see wolves in the park each year. (Tyler Tjomsland)

PREDATORS -- Few of the dozens of outfitters and conservationists who showed up for a Wyoming Game and Fish Department wolf meeting Wednesday saw eye to eye, or approved of the status of the hunt, according to a report in the Jackson Hole Daily.

Wyoming Game and Fish is proposing to target 46 wolves this fall — 20 more than last year — in the state’s trophy game management area. Managers aim to bring the population of wolves in Wyoming’s jurisdiction down to near 160, wolf program biologist Ken Mills said.

Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.